1. Dr. Jim Kerr
1.1. Available Here
1.2. What does it do?
1.2.1. Provides a graphic organizer with basic info (price, frequency of use, etc), followed by a rating scale from 1-5 on various criteria.
1.3. Likes
1.3.1. The numer rating system would make it very easy to compare one software with another.
1.3.2. Delivery Methods section
1.4. Dislikes
1.4.1. It's very general, would suggest an "comments" section for each number-rating
1.5. Would I use it?
1.5.1. Yes, although I would create my own modified version with space for specifics, as I stated in my "Dislikes."
2. NETS for Teachers
2.1. Available Here
2.2. What does it do?
2.2.1. Summary of specs for the software followed by checklists for various sections
2.3. Likes
2.3.1. The sections this evaluation form is broken into suit my style a lot (teacher support, content, assessment, technical quality, instructional design, etc.)
2.3.1.1. This is a lot like how I would set up an eval. form.
2.3.2. Instructions for using the form - tedious at first but means more efficiency after familiarizing oneself.
2.3.3. Sections for listing strengths/weaknesses/recommendations
2.3.4. Very organized and aesthetically pleasing
2.4. Dislikes
2.4.1. None :)
2.5. Would I use it?
2.5.1. Absolutely!
3. Children's Software Revue
3.1. Available Here
3.2. What does it do?
3.2.1. "Always/Somtimes/Never" approach to raiting software based on 6 different criteria.
3.3. Likes
3.3.1. Easy to follow because of the way it's broken up.
3.4. Dislikes
3.4.1. Very general
3.4.2. Seems to be geared more towards early childhood education (includes questions about durability, etc.)
3.5. Would I use it?
3.5.1. Probably not.
4. Silverlake
4.1. Available Here
4.2. What does it do?
4.2.1. Overall summary of software first, then broken down into specifics
4.3. Likes
4.3.1. The Evaluation Summary - space for my notes
4.3.2. Space for my comments after each evaluation section
4.3.3. Addresses just about every aspect one would want to consider.
4.4. Dislikes
4.4.1. Seems to be quite intensive to review.
4.5. Would I use it?
4.5.1. Yes!
5. Buyers' Worksheet
5.1. Available Here
5.2. What does it do?
5.2.1. Provides space for the evaluator to consider studies on the effectiveness of a particular software
5.3. Likes
5.3.1. Includes space for the buyer to consider studies on the software
5.4. Dislikes
5.4.1. Doesn't tell much about the software itself or its uses.
5.5. Would I use it?
5.5.1. I would use it to supplement another evaluation tool, but not by itself.
6. Way Cool Review
6.1. Available Here
6.2. What does it do?
6.2.1. Asks evaluators a number of questions about a software
6.3. Likes
6.3.1. It includes a section for additional information from parents/students
6.4. Dislikes
6.4.1. Doesn't really delve into features of the software or potential uses.
6.4.2. Not particularly organized
6.4.3. Very opinion-based, not objective
6.5. Would I use it?
6.5.1. No
7. Checklist for Evaluating Software for Young Children
7.1. Available Here
7.2. What does it do?
7.2.1. Evaluates three aspects side-by-side (child features, teacher features, and technical features)
7.3. Likes
7.3.1. Three different things to think about when evaluating
7.3.2. The evaluation is very "kid focused"
7.4. Dislikes
7.4.1. Box for software specs should be up towards the top, followed by the evalution
7.4.2. Very black and white, no gray areas in terms of the evaluation. Either it's got something or it doesn't.
7.5. Would I use it?
7.5.1. I would use this in addition to something else.
8. Software Evaluation Criteria (2)
8.1. Available Here
8.2. What does it do?
8.2.1. Provides general software information followed by a "Yes/No" checklist broken into "Features," "Content," and "Technical Aspects."
8.3. Likes
8.3.1. Comments section for each of the evaluation criteria
8.4. Dislikes
8.4.1. No space for discussion of the software's uses
8.5. Would I use it?
8.5.1. No.